Mayor Catherine Read Running For Re-Election: 2024 Candidate Profile

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — While most of the attention this political season has been on the presidential race, Fairfax City residents will not only be voting for candidates running in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives (11th District) races, they will also be casting ballots for mayor, city council and school board candidates.

Mayor Catherine S. Read is running for re-election and is facing challenger Susan Hartley Kuiler on the Nov. 5 ballot.

As part of its coverage of the 2024 election, Patch has asked both of the candidates in the Fairfax City mayor's race to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

Early voting for the Nov. 5 election begins on Sept 20. More information about the election is available on Fairfax City's Voter Registration & Elections page. Non-city voters can visit the Fairfax County Office of Elections or the Virginia Department of Elections for more information.

Your Name

Catherine S. Read

Position sought

Mayor

Age (as of Election Day)

62

Campaign Website

www.MayorRead.com

City elections are traditionally non-partisan and candidates must run as independents, according to both the city charter and the Code of Virginia. No party affiliation or "mark" will appear next to any of the candidates' names on the Nov. 5 ballot. Have you been endorsed by a recognized political party or have you aligned yourself with a group of candidates representing themselves as independent, non-partisan candidates, including candidates running in other city races? Please check the answer that is most appropriate.

Please elaborate on your answer to the previous question and explain how this will affect the way you will serve as mayor.

A Mayor serves all constituents to the best of their ability. That's the oath of office I took and what I have done for the past 21 months. My chosen political party is the Democratic Party and I'm a member of the City of Fairfax Democratic Committee. I've knocked doors every election in this city since 2008 for Democratic candidates and worked the polls on Election Days to elect Democratic candidates in Precinct 6 and precincts around the city.

What is to be gained by pretending to voters, who may not know me, that I'm "non-partisan/independent/politically agnostic"? A Google search will deliver results that show I am an actively engaged Democrat.

I'm not running away from a party affiliation that I chose. I sought the endorsement of the City Democratic Committee because I believe in the values of the Democratic Party.

How does your status as described in the two previous questions help Fairfax City voters choose a candidate that aligns with their particular political beliefs?

Elections were held every other May for the first 60 years of the City's history and only 20% of registered city voters voted for mayor and city council. It was very consistent. That's less than a quarter of voters selecting their local government for over half a century.

When the Virginia General Assembly decided to move municipal elections to November across the entire Commonwealth, the number of registered voters shot up to 59% in 2022. That means we nearly tripled the number of voters who participated in local elections and the majority were voting for their local elected officials for the first time. That prompted the City of Fairfax Democratic Committee to offer all the candidates running the opportunity to seek the endorsement of the Democratic party.

The practice of political endorsements for non-partisan races have been in place for many years across Virginia and that includes here in Northern Virginia: Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, Loundoun, etc. That includes for Constitutional offices like Sheriff, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Commonwealth's Attorney. Our current Sheriff has run as a Democrat since her first special election - supported and funded by local Democrats. She serves everyone just as I serve everyone to the best of our abilities as elected officials.

Names, ages and any pertinent details you wish to share about your family.

I live with my husband Tom and dog Reggie in Fairchester Woods. I have three children who Fairchester Woods. I have three children who graduated from Fairfax High School in '04, '05 and '08.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you are a candidate in.

Not currently. My grandmother served as the first Superintendent of Public Welfare for the City of Radford, VA, from 1936 to 1972. It was a political appointment, which allowed a young mother of 34 with three young children (my father was 5 at the time) to have a professional career during the worst economic depression in the country's history. Professions like teaching and secretarial support, the few available to women, didn't allow married women or pregnant women to work at all.

She retired on her 70th birthday, Valentine's Day 1972, when I was 10 years old. I looked around the parish hall that day at people I had known all my life and understood clearly what it meant to serve your community. She believed in providing for everyone no matter their race, social circumstances, marital status, faith tradition, or cranky temperament. She was generous, kind, funny, and resilient. The best role model ever.

Education

BA in Government & Politics from George Mason University

Occupation - Please include years of experience.

I have done many different things since I graduated from Mason in 1984. Data Processing (IT), Personnel (HR), I've owned two small businesses including a social media consultancy started in 2007 when it was called "online marketing." Most recently I've worked in non-profit advocacy and also hosted weekly shows for Fairfax Public Access.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

Mayor, City of Fairfax

Why are you seeking elective office?

I originally ran in 2022 so Fairfax City voters had a choice of two candidates for an open seat. I'm running in 2024 because no one else stepped up who struck me as a candidate I could support with enthusiasm.

The single most pressing issue facing voters is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Housing. The escalating home values are pricing people out of homeownership in our city and it's increasing the tax burden on current homeowners that is not sustainable. We need attainable housing - a place to live for single people in service jobs, young people newly graduated, young families with children, empty nesters, and our aging senior population. We need housing that can accommodate people at every stage in the arc of their lives and for the budgets of a wide variety of working adults and retired adults.

We need supportive housing for people with disabilities of many different varieties. Along with that housing we need jobs and transit for those residents so they can live as full and independent a life as is possible. We need more supportive housing for those who need mental health support and those who are aging on a fixed income that put them at risk of homelessness.

We need transitional housing for those who are fleeing domestic violence, escaping human trafficking, refugees, those in recovery, and those returning to the community from incarceration.

We also need an emergency shelter for Region 4, which includes Fairfax City, so we can temporarily offer shelter while helping people access services they require to get back on their feet.

The demand for student housing has led to a boom in corporations buying up housing stock and artificially inflating the rental rates to take advantage of students living off campus. That price fixing is being addressed by the Department of Justice but doesn't address the acquisition of these properties in all cash offers that cut out many buyers.

Addressing detached accessory dwelling units is one solution we are currently discussing to create small-scale housing solutions that are a win-win for property owners and people seeking affordable alternatives to homeownership and apartments. We are proceeding thoughtfully with that.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I'm a collaborative person who looks for opportunities to work with people to move things forward. I care about good government. That means being a good steward of the years of work invested by previous councils and mayors. We are all on this planet briefly and what we do potentially impacts this city for generations to come.

There is a balance between consensus and dissent that moves us toward finding the best solutions. I am not rigid in my thinking. I continue to learn every day and to show up in my role as mayor in ways that benefit what the city is working to accomplish. Having broadcast media experience is an asset in this job along with confidence as a public speaker. When I'm asked to show up to represent the city, I say yes as often as I can

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

When I ran in 2022, I focused on building municipal bathrooms and connecting sidewalks so people of all ages and mobility could safely traverse this 6.2 square mile city. These are basic things that improve the quality of people's daily lives and make our community safer and more pleasant. We are making significant strides in both those areas.

Economic Development is the engine that drives this city's quality of life. We need to continue to attract, support, and retain a wide variety of businesses here. I work with our Economic Development staff, the OTFBA, and the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce to give our local businesses the time, attention, and support that we can provide as a small jurisdiction. We are at the epicenter geographically of both Fairfax County and the Northern Virginia Region and that gives us an advantage we need to leverage. Continuing to grow a robust economy relieves our reliance on property taxes to fund our annual budget.

Environmental sustainability is a complex issue that increasingly pits one set of ideas about what is best for the environment with other competing interests. The construction of multimodal transportation projects often requires the removal of trees that have to be replanted. The recent update to the city's tree ordinance addresses best practices regarding the removal of trees and also the requirements for trees in commercial development projects. The current work on the Urban Forest Master Plan also highlights our commitment to the preservation of our tree canopy. There are also benefits to more active transit and walkability, including ADA-compliant shared-use paths. It is possible and desirable to understand the cost-benefit analysis of these environmental policies and to understand they will continue to evolve.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

The work I did for over a decade with legislative advocacy connected me with numerous non-profits in Northern Virginia and across Virginia. It also put me in front of legislators at the local, state and federal level. When I was elected as mayor, I brought to the role long-term relationships with members of the Northern Virginia Legislative Delegation in the House and Senate, relationships with members of Boards of Supervisors in Fairfax County and surrounding jurisdictions, with members of local town and city councils in the area, and with our Congressional Delegation. It has facilitated productive collaborations at a regional level around issues like fully funding Metro.

I currently serve on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), the Northern Virginia Transportation Commisssion (NVTC), and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC.) When I commit to serving, I show up and do the work.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

When you change "I have to" into "I get to" - it changes everything.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

In 2023 Fairfax City hosted it's first ever Pride Event, our inaugural Juneteenth celebration, and the first Hispanic Heritage Festival - Fiesta Fairfax. Our Asian Festival on Main has become a marquis event in the city growing larger every year. All of these signal to our residents and our region that we are an open, welcoming, and inclusive community. These things matter to me.

I've served on numerous boards over the years, including 9 years on the Board of Directors of Britepaths; 7 years on the Board of Equality Virginia, with current service on EV Advocates; I was PAC Board Chair for NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, now RePro Rising Virginia; and I currently serve on the Advisory Board for the Virginia Poverty Law Center. I'm also a Rotarian and Past President of the Rotary Club of Centreville-Chantilly (2011-12)

I endeavor to live my values in what I chose to do with my time.